I see the public fuss over the cuts to working for families, and can't imagine what they are complaining about.
I am the sole earner for my family of 3 children (5 years, 2 years, and 9 months), and earn $37,000 a year before tax, managing a downtown retail business.
We are currently living in a family home, to save for our wedding, so I'll give you figures for last year.
From my wages, I paid rent, power, clothes, and any other costs we needed.
Working for Families give us $260 a week, from which we buy food, nappies, baby formula, pay off some debt, and buy gas for the car.
We do not borrow to survive, as we've learnt how much it costs in the end.
I am upset that people complain about cuts to the scheme, when we are earning around half what they must be to be experiencing such cuts.
We get by alright- we are happy, healthy, and our kids are well clothed and fed.
Please remember, it's not the quantity you earn, its the quality in which you spend it.
Chris Jenkins, Ohauiti.